2009-2010 FACULTY SENATE
California State University, Sacramento

AGENDA
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Foothill Suite
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

 

 

OPEN FORUM

 

BUDGET UPDATE

 

CONSENT ACTION

 

FS 09-60/Ex.

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT – SENATE

 

Research and Creative Activities Subcommittee

Esen Onur, At-large, 2011

 

FS 09-64/Ex.

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT – UNIVERSITY

 

Honorary Degrees Committee

David Lang, 2012

 

REGULAR AGENDA

 

FS 09-61/Ex.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

 

FS 09-62/Flr.

NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF FACULTY REPRESENTATIVES TO THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COUNCIL

 

Must be a Faculty Senator.

 

Current Senate representative:

Mary Kirlin, SS&IS, 2010

 

Nominees:

Tanya Altmann, H&HS

Harry Theodorides, H&HS

 

Nominations remain open until closed at this meeting.

 

FS 09-63/Flr.

NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNIVERSITY BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Current at-large faculty representatives:

James Sobredo, SS&IS, 2010

Scott Farrand, NS&M, 2011

 

Nominees:

Bob Buckley, E&CS

Michael McKeough, H&HS

Darryl Parker, H&HS

 

Nominations remain open until closed at this meeting.

 

SECOND READING

 

FS 09-58/GSPC

GRADUATION WRITING ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT (GWAR) FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

 

(See flowchart of GWAR for Graduate Students Process for a visual depiction of this policy)

 

Revisions to University Policy Manual

 

Current

Proposed Revision

WRITING PROFICIENCY (GRADUATES)

 

All entering graduate students (those classified in degree programs effective Fall Semester, 1982, and thereafter) are expected to demonstrate writing proficiency at the undergraduate level as prescribed by California State University. Students applying for admission to graduate programs who have not fulfilled this requirement because of having graduated from a non-CSU institution or having completed undergraduate degree requirements prior to the imposition of the writing standard shall be required to demonstrate writing proficiency as an admission requirement or before becoming fully classified in a graduate degree program.

 

The university's writing proficiency requirement for graduates may be met by one of the methods described below:

1.     passing the CSUS Writing Proficiency Examination with score of eight or better, or passing an equivalent standard, as approved by the appropriate committee of the English Department and by the Dean of Graduate Studies, (equivalent standards will apply only to those students who are admitted with baccalaureate degrees from non-CSU institutions, and have demonstrated writing proficiency at the former university); or

 

2.     achieving a satisfactory score on the CLEP General Examination in English Composition (Essay Edition), or achieving a satisfactory score (as determined by the Graduate Policies and Programs Committee and the appropriate committee as recommended by the Graduate Policies and Programs Committee and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies and the appropriate committee of the English Department.

 

Any department may, with concurrence of the Graduate Policies and Programs Committee, require other evidence of writing proficiency in addition to the minimum prescribed in either 1 or 2 above.*

 

WRITING PROFICIENCY (GRADUATES)

 

Writing proficiency at the graduate level will be demonstrated by successful completion of the graduate program requirements.

 

Students’ preparedness for graduate level writing may be demonstrated by meeting one of the standards specified on the WPG Equivalency Standards form. Students who do not meet one or more of these standards must either take the Writing Placement for Graduate Students (WPG) or earn a B or above in take a Graduate Writing Intensive (GWI) course in their discipline within their first two semesters of coursework at California State University, Sacramento. Students whose performance on the WPG indicates that they do not need additional writing preparation may advance to candidacy when appropriate.  Students whose WPG performance indicates they need additional preparation may elect either to take a GWI course within their program (if available) or via the College of Continuing Education.  In either case, students must earn a B or above in the course in order to advance to candidacy.

 

 

Title 5 now requires that applicants for graduate programs who have not attended, for at least three years, secondary or postsecondary educational institutions where English is the principal language of instruction possess a score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prior to admission to CSUS. In addition, the immigration laws require that international students on non-immigrant visas be admitted only as fully classified graduate students. ESL international students required to take the TOEFL may demonstrate writing proficiency by the following method:

 

1. achieving a score of 550 on the TOEFL which shall be validated during the first two weeks of enrollment on this campus by taking the CSUS English Diagnostic Test, which is designed primarily for assessing the writing skills of ESL students. If lack of writing proficiency is demonstrated through this test, the Graduate Coordinator of the department in which the student is classified and the student's departmental advisor will design, in consultation with the Writing Proficiency Exam Coordinator (or designee), a plan for the student to achieve writing proficiency. This plan must be acknowledged by the student in writing, signed by the Graduate Coordinator, Advisor and Department Chair, and submitted to the dean of Graduate Studies for approval. The student must have achieved writing proficiency as outlined in the plan before advancement to candidacy. Failure to demonstrate proficiency in a timely fashion may result in the student's declassification.

 

In addition, the following policy applies to any student, ESL or otherwise, who has not already demonstrated writing proficiency according to the CSUS criteria by one of the methods above:

 

2. Graduate students who appear to have an insufficient background in the English language to succeed in graduate study and have not already demonstrated writing proficiency may be required to take the CSUS English Diagnostic Test by the Dean of Graduate Studies after consultation with the Department Chair and Graduate Coordinator. If the test result is below the acceptable minimum standard, the student may be declassified and required to gain additional English language skills before reapplying for admission to classified graduate standing. In any case, writing proficiency must be demonstrated before advancement to candidacy.**

Title 5 requires that applicants for graduate programs who have not completed a baccalaureate degree from a postsecondary educational institution where English is the principal language of instruction to possess a minimum score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prior to admission to CSUS as follows: 550 on the paper-based TOEFL; or 213 on the computer-based TOEFL; or 80 on the internet-based TOEFL (iBT). Students may also demonstrate English language proficiency by possessing an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0.

 

 

Background information can be found at Attachment C.

INFORMATION:

NEXT SENATE MEETING: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2009

Schedule of meetings:

·       Thursday, October 29, 2009 – Senate meets

·       Thursday, November 5, 2009 – tentative

·       Thursday, November 19, 2009 – Senate meets

·       Thursday, December 3, 2009 – tentative

·       Thursday, December 17, 2009 – Senate meets